Gouldian puffy and sleeping with head tucked

[lpappy]

Thank you Debbie. I'd rather do that than give mess if I don't have to.

Dutch as soon as I figure out how to download a picture I will. I only have 6 gouldians.

[MiaCarter]

I agree with Debbie; I would do extra heat, NV powder, supplements and good food.
I'd wait to see.

You can always check for ASM by transilluminating the lower neck area with a powerful light. Dampen the feathers with a wet cotton ball. Dim the lights. Then put a light up to him. If he has ASM, you'll see tiny black specks. They may even move. (Eeek. Heebie jeebies!)

I always treat with Amoxitex (antibiotic) when treating for ASM as the treatment is a bit stressful, weakening their immune defenses.
Plus, it can take the body a while to get the dead mites get flushed away. Those dead mites can serve as tiny bacteria farms, which can result in a respiratory infection.
So I always do S76 and Amoxitex. Some may not agree with that. Some don't believe in using antibiotics in a prophylactic capacity and I generally don't. But this is the one exception for me. Such a large percentage of birds get a respiratory infection in addition to the ASM. I've lost a lovely canary this way. It can be very deadly very fast, so I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I still feel guilty today knowing that if I'd treated that canary with antibiotics from the get-go, he may have survived. Instead, I waited until 3 days after administering S76 when it became clear that he was getting worse, not better. I waited too long and he paid the price for that bad decision on my part.

What do his poops look like? Is there a possibility of a protozoal infection?

[dutch]

lpappy...how long have you had your gouldians

[lpappy]

Thanks for your suggestion MiaCarter. I did it although I don't think he's too happy with me but I didn't see any black specks. I do treat two days a month with the S76. I started him today on the Amoxitex. His poops like perfectly fine. He's just puffy and his wings are down and he is sitting by the heat lamp. He seemed a little more alert today but I'm going to continue treatment and hopfully he'll improve. I do have some meds on hand but I'm always leary to administer them so I know what you mean when you loose one and you wonder if you should have done more sooner.

And Dutch I've had birds for the last 30 plus years but I've only had finches particularly gouldians for about 6 years. I've learned so much from this forum just reading and following other peoples issues with their feathered friends. I have a cockateil thats 26 years old and a sun conure thats about 12. They are totally different than the finches. I've never given them meds in all the years I've had them.

[lpappy]

Well after much reading I think my gouldian has canker so I started him on the Ronex. His crop seems to be puffy as if there is air in it. He's still puffy but his poops are good and he appears to be eating. Hopefully this will work and he's ok. I called Larraine at Lady Gouldian so hopefully I hear back from her tomorrow with some direction. I wanted to make sure if I had to treat the others that he was in with when he started showing symptoms. I've had a cockateil for 26 years and a sun conure for about 12 and have never had to medicate them with anything. These little gouldians are a challenge at times.

[finchandlovebird]

But they're worth it Linda